Banking: Bonuses

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the bonus arrangements of the bankers recruited by them into UK Financial Investments Limited to manage the £37 billion bank rescue package.

Lord Myners: The remuneration arrangements for directors and senior management of UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI) are approved by UKFI's board.
	Some element of performance-related pay is now the norm in the great majority of organisations in both the public and private sectors. UKFI will be no exception to this, and as with other publicly funded organisations all remuneration arrangements must deliver value for money for the taxpayer.
	Full running costs for UKFI, including individual remuneration details for all members of the UKFI board, will be published in the UKFI annual report. More details can be found in UKFI's framework document, which is available on UKFI's website at www.ukfi.gov.uk/.

Banking: Lloyds

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many employees (other than directors) of Lloyds Banking Group plc received total emoluments of more than £194,000 in 2008; and how many are expected to receive total emoluments of more than £194,000 in 2009.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many employees of Lloyds Banking Group plc, other than main board directors, had total emoluments in each of the following ranges in 2008: (a) £194,000 to £250,000, (b) £250,001 to £500,000, (c) £500,001 to £1,000,000, (d) £1,000,001 to £5,000,000, (e) £5,000,001 to £10,000,000, and (f) over £10,000,000.

Lord Myners: UK Financial Investments Limited (UKFI), which manages the Government's shareholdings in financial institutions on a commercial and arm's- length basis, has been overseeing the remuneration conditions attached to subscribing to the Government's recapitalisation fund and the Treasury's Asset Protection Scheme. UKFI has worked to ensure management incentivisation based on long-term, sustainable performance and no rewards for failure, in order to protect the interest of the taxpayer as a shareholder.
	Lloyds Banking Group has committed to a restructuring remuneration based on these principles, including no discretionary bonuses to be paid in 2009 except to the most junior staff earning an average of around £20,000, and no annual free share award to anyone in the bank.
	The Government's policy is that the approach to disclosure taken by the banks in which they hold a stake should follow the requirements for companies listed on the Stock Exchange, including the Combined Code on Corporate Governance and Directors' Remuneration Report Regulations. Lloyds Banking Group annual report will contain a directors' remuneration report with information on directors' remuneration.

Banking: Pensions

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether bank directors removed from office can be obliged to reduce the capital accumulations of their pension schemes.

Baroness Vadera: A director's pension arrangements, and variations to those arrangements, are a matter for agreement between the director and the company and its shareholders under the terms of the director's service and pension plan agreements.

British Transport Police

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what projections they have for funding sources for the British Transport Police for the next three years; and what impact future funding will have on full-time equivalents of Police Officers, Community Support Officers and other staff.

Lord Adonis: Funding to cover the running costs of the British Transport Police (BTP) is sourced entirely from the rail industry. We have no plans to change that arrangement.
	It is for the BTP chief constable to determine the number of staff needed effectively to police the railway, in consultation with the BTP Authority which is responsible for securing the necessary funding.

Civil Service: Redundancy

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Patel of Bradford on 3 March (WA 134—35), how much would be payable in the event of redundancy to a civil servant earning £25,000 per annum who is aged 50 with 15 years' service.

Lord Patel of Bradford: I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave him on Tuesday 3 March (Official Report, col. WA 134-35).

Crime: Metal Theft

Baroness Greengross: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 21 January (WA 203), why they do not hold information concerning crimes involving metal theft affecting the operation of the railways.

Lord Adonis: Both the British Transport Police (BTP) and the Government take the problem of metal theft on the railway very seriously. A number of government departments, including the Department for Transport, have been involved in tackling the problem and both central and local government agencies have been closely involved in a pilot operation now running in South Yorkshire designed specifically to tackle it.
	Statistics on metal theft are complied and held by the BTP since the prime responsibility for dealing with incidents rests with them. The figures are nevertheless available on request.

Crime: Public Transport

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many civil servants were working on crime reduction on public transport in (a) the Home Office, (b) the Department for Transport or its predecessors, (c) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and (d) Communities and Local Government or its predecessors, in each of the past 10 years; and how many currently work on this issue in those departments.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding have (a) the Home Office, (b) the Department for Transport or its predecessors, (c) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and (d) Communities and Local Government or its predecessors, received for crime reduction on public transport in each of the past 10 years.

Lord Adonis: All four departments employ officials whose duties relate to aspects of either policing or crime or both. None, however, is employed wholly or primarily in the specific area of crime reduction on public transport. Similarly, none of the departments receives money specifically devoted to this purpose. I am not aware that the position was different in the case of the predecessors of any of the departments.

Crime: Public Transport

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of crime reduction and the perception of crime on passenger numbers on public transport.

Lord Adonis: The Government have not commissioned research directly on the subject. However, it is likely that reductions in crime and the fear of crime will, like other factors such as improved train performance, have contributed to the passenger growth seen in recent years.

Data Entry

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 25 February (WA 86—87), whether Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has set an overall standard for errors in data entry and processing; and, if so, what is that standard.

Lord Carter of Barnes: The department does not set an overall standard for data entry and processing. These are set at system design stage on an application by application basis and it would normally be up to each individual organisation to set these to meet its needs.

Economy

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to co-ordinate responses to the present economic situation by the governments of the United Kingdom.

Lord Myners: The recession is affecting all four countries of the UK. The UK Government are working closely with the devolved Administrations to ensure a well co-ordinated response to the situation, including:
	on 25 February, the Prime Minister chaired a meeting with the First Ministers of the devolved Administrations to discuss the economy;on 12 March, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury chaired a meeting with Finance Ministers of the devolved Administrations including a discussion on the economy; andScottish and Welsh economic summits held in the devolved Administrations attended by the relevant Secretaries of State and Ministers from the devolved Administrations. Northern Ireland has an Economic Development Forum that is made up of representatives from business, the voluntary and community sector, higher and further education, trade unions and Government.
	In addition, Ministers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have meetings with the UK Ministers on a regular basis.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Equality and Human Rights Commission will publish the results of the last opinion and satisfaction surveys of its staff and its customers.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Equality and Human Rights Commission undertook its first colleague engagement survey in October 2008. It is the commission's intention to repeat the survey on an annual basis and will provide an important starting point for internal benchmarking through subsequent surveys. The commission has decided that it will not be publishing the results of the survey as it is an opportunity for staff to share their views within the commission and not externally. The commission is planning to carry out a customer survey but as yet has not done so.

EU: Free Trade Agreements

The Earl of Dundee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to uphold the principle of free trade between European Union member states.

Baroness Vadera: The principle of free trade is at the heart of the single market and the European Union. An open and competitive single market will be key to economic recovery.
	The Prime Minister, in a letter to European leaders ahead of the informal European Council on 1 March, called on all countries to renounce protectionism, both within and outside the European Union. At that meeting, leaders stressed that protectionism is no answer to the current crisis and expressed confidence in the Commission's role to make sure that the treaty is respected. The Government will continue to press for a strong commitment to resisting protectionism at both the upcoming spring European Council and London summit. It is hoped that leaders will renew their commitment to a successful and speedy conclusion of the Doha round. This could generate over $100 billion of additional economic growth and would provide an effective means of preventing a retreat into protectionism.

Forced Labour

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have discussed with the governments of the Ivory Coast and other west African states (a) forced child labour on cocoa farms; and (b) the trafficking of children and adults from west Africa to Europe, including the United Kingdom; and, if so, with what results.

Lord Malloch-Brown: Our officials in Abidjan attended a seminar in 2008 to discuss progress of the Government of Cote d'Ivoire on meeting the requirements of the Harkin Engel protocol to combat child labour in cocoa production. Our officials will be meeting the Cote d'Ivoire authorities shortly to discuss and follow-up progress.
	Our officials in Ghana regularly discuss child labour in the cocoa industry with the Government. The Government of Ghana have shown a strong commitment to the issue and have passed legislation prohibiting child labour.
	Through the UK Human Trafficking Centre, the UK is in regular contact with anti-trafficking organisations in Nigeria, Ghana and the Gambia. Work continues to develop in this area.

Hooper Review

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what response they have made to the Communication Workers' Union submission to the Hooper review; and what conclusions they have drawn.

Baroness Vadera: Richard Hooper's independent review panel took full account of the Communication Workers' Union submission in preparing its report to my noble friend the Secretary of State. The Government have accepted the panel's analysis and, through the Postal Services Bill, are taking steps to implement its recommendations.

Immigration: France

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for an Anglo-French detention camp in the Calais area; what is the purpose of any such facility; whether they intend to imprison potential illegal immigrants there; what discussions they have had with French ministers about it; and what is the response of the Government of France to the proposal.

Lord West of Spithead: Phil Woolas met Eric Besson, the French Minister for Immigration Integration, Nationality Identity and Solidarity-based Development, on 11 February 2009.
	Both Ministers reiterated their opposition to any sort of new Sangatte reception centre which might act as a magnet for illegal immigrants, traffickers and smugglers. At the same time, both Ministers are concerned for the humanitarian situation faced by individuals in the Calais region and will provide support to those in genuine need.
	Alongside this we are discussing a secure replacement facility in the UK control zone to hold illegal immigrants until they can be handed over to the French border police and processed under French law. The details, including financing, are still under discussion between officials.

Income

Lord Bradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average annual income per household in each of the 10 districts of Greater Manchester in each of the past five years.

Lord Patel of Bradford: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician, to Lord Bradley, dated March 2009.
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Question asking what was the average annual income per household in each of the 10 districts of Greater Manchester in each of the past five years. (HL2496)
	Table 1 shows the average net weekly equivalised household income for the North West, both before and after housing costs, at 2004-05 prices, since 2000-01-2002-03. These figures are based on the Department for Work and Pensions' Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series which is produced using the Family Resources Survey. It is not possible to present results from the HBAI series below the level of Government Office Regions. While HBAI more commonly presents median incomes, mean incomes are also shown here in order to be more comparable with the mean incomes shown for the 10 districts of Greater Manchester.
	Table 2 shows average net weekly equivalised household incomes for the 10 districts of Greater Manchester, before and after housing costs, for the year 2004-05 (in 2004-05 prices). These are based on experimental small area statistics published by the ONS. Figures for other years are unavailable.
	It should be borne in mind that the Government Office Region statistics and the small area statistics are based on different methodologies. It is not possible to separate out methodological differences from real differences. Small differences or changes over time should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error.
	
		
			 Table 1: Average net weekly equivalised, household income in the North West, at 2004-05 prices 1,2,3 
			 2000-01 to 2006-074£ per-week 
			  Before housing costs 5  After housing costs 5  
			  Median income Mean income Median income Mean income 
			 2000-01—2002-03 315 369 269 314 
			 2001-02—2003-04 322 382 278 329 
			 2002-03—2004-05 327 390 284 340 
			 2003-04—2005-06 329 391 287 343 
			 2004-05—2006-07 329 397 287 350 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 Incomes are presented net of income tax payments. National Insurance contributions and Council tax.
	2 North West as defined by Government office region.
	3 All figures have been rounded to the nearest pound.
	4 Three-year averages have been presented, as single year estimates would be subject to volatility.
	5 Housing costs include rent (gross of housing benefit), water charges, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance, ground rent and service charges.
	Source: 'Households Below Average Income', Department for Work and Pensions.
	
		
			 Table 2: Average net weekly equivalised household income for the 10 districts of Greater Manchester 2004-05 1, 2 
			   £ per week 
			  Mean income (before housing costs) 3 Mean income (after housing Costs) 3 
			 2004-05   
			 Bolton 390 350 
			 Bury 410 370 
			 Manchester 340 280 
			 Oldham 360 330 
			 Rochdale 370 330 
			 Salford 360 320 
			 Stockport 430 400 
			 Tameside 370 330 
			 Trafford 450 400 
			 Wigan 380 340 
		
	
	1 Incomes are presented net of income tax payments, National Insurance contributions and Council tax.
	2 Figures rounded to the nearest £10.
	3 Housing costs include rent (gross of housing benefit), water charges, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance, ground rent and service charges.
	Source: Office for National Statistics and Department for Work and Pensions.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what other definitions of "relevant officer" they considered when drawing up Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill; how the current definition was reached; and who provided the legal advice on the definition.

Baroness Andrews: Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill provides that local authorities will define for themselves which officers count as "relevant officers" for the purposes of Clause 16(2)(c). The list of relevant officers must include the senior officers specified in Clause 16(5). The list of officers in Clause 16(5) was devised on the basis of responses to the local accountability consultation, and follows the precedent set in the list of senior officers in Section 2 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. The Government do not usually disclose the source of their legal advice.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to issue guidance on whether a member of an overview and scrutiny committee who is the organiser of or a signatory to a petition that calls for an officer to be called to account, as proposed in Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, should declare a personal and prejudicial interest and absent themselves from the committee while it is holding that officer to account.

Baroness Andrews: The provisions in Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill do not alter the existing arrangements, which is that overview and scrutiny committee members are bound by their authority's code of conduct which covers matters such as conflicts of interest.
	Communities and Local Government is committed to working closely with the local government sector and other stakeholders to develop guidance to support principal local authorities to meet the petitions requirements set out in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill and in particular to identify the areas which the guidance should cover. The guidance will build on the views of respondents to the 2008 Local Petitions and Calls for Action consultation and the Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power: Improving Local Accountability consultation and a draft will be made available for consultation.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in fulfilling Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, a local authority could reject a petition requiring an officer to be called to account on the grounds that (a) the relevant officer has been suspended in connection with matters raised in the petition or any other matter; (b) the relevant officer has been involved in disciplinary proceedings in relation to matters raised in the petition and which have concluded; or (c) the officer concerned is currently involved in disciplinary proceedings relating to a matter raised in the petition.

Baroness Andrews: An authority could not reject such petitions on these grounds alone. Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill provides that petitions may require relevant officers, whether identified by name or description, to give evidence to an overview and scrutiny committee. Local authorities may refuse to respond to petitions which are vexatious, abusive or otherwise inappropriate.
	The overview and scrutiny committee could decide that for the purposes of addressing the concerns raised by the petition, it would be more appropriate for another officer to attend before it. Committees may well choose to do this when the officer requested has been suspended or involved in disciplinary proceedings, as public meetings of overview and scrutiny committees would not be an appropriate forum to discuss the confidential information involved in disciplinary proceedings.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many officers in total they expect to be covered by Clause 16(5) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill; and how many in each principal local authority.

Baroness Andrews: Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill provides that local authorities will define for themselves which officers count as "relevant officers" for the purposes of Clause 16(2)(c). The list of relevant officers in each principal local authority must include the senior officers specified in Clause 16(5). The number of officers covered by the provisions of Clause 16 will, therefore, depend on local authorities' own administrative arrangements and decisions.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Tope: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether guidance relating to a local authority's petition scheme will require that, upon receiving a petition asking that an officer be called to account under Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, the organiser of the petition is notified of the relevant meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee and is invited to attend.

Baroness Andrews: Clause 13 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill requires a principal local authority to send a written acknowledgement to the petition organiser. This acknowledgement must give information about what the authority has done or proposes to do in response to the petition. Where Clause 16 applies to a petition, the principal local authority would be expected to include information such as the details of the relevant meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee in this acknowledgement. If the information is not available at the time of acknowledgement it should be provided to the petition organiser when it becomes available.
	Communities and Local Government is committed to working closely with the local government sector and other stakeholders to develop guidance to support principal local authorities to meet the petitions requirements set out in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill and in particular to identify the areas which the guidance should cover. The guidance will build on the views of respondents to the 2008 Local Petitions and Calls for Action Consultation and the Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power: Improving Local Accountability consultation and a draft will be made available for consultation.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Tope: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to issue guidance to local authorities on how to deal with a petition, submitted in accordance with Part 1 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, that relates to an ongoing legal dispute before a court; and how any such guidance will cover the calling of an officer to account if that officer is expected to appear before a court to give evidence relating to the discharge of functions that the petition relates to.

Baroness Andrews: The existing arrangements for dealing with issues which may relate to ongoing legal disputes before a court would apply in relation to the petitions received by a principal local authority. This includes those petitions which fall under the requirements of Clause 16. Section 21(15) of the Local Government Act 2000 provides that a person is not obliged to answer any question which she or he would be entitled to refuse to answer in or for the purposes of proceedings in a court in England or Wales.
	Communities and Local Government is committed to working closely with the local government sector and other stakeholders to develop guidance to support principal local authorities to meet the petitions requirements set out in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill and in particular to identify the areas which the guidance should cover. The guidance will build on the views of respondents to the 2008 Local Petitions and Calls for Action consultation and the Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power: Improving Local Accountability consultation and a draft will be made available for consultation.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a local authority may take into account any petitions submitted to it calling for an officer to be held to account under Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill when considering the promotion of that officer; whether the overview and scrutiny committee can delay any transfer or promotion of the officer to another position before or after the committee has reached its decision on the petition; and, if so, whether they plan to issue legal advice to local authorities.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a local authority must or may record on an officer's personnel files details of all petitions, both those considered valid and those rejected, that are submitted to it that call for that officer to be called to account, as set out in Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, together with any report and recommendations made by an overview and scrutiny committee.

Baroness Andrews: As under existing arrangements, when officers give evidence as required by Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, these evidence sessions would be tasks officers are required to carry out as part of their employment. Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill does not alter the way local authorities assess officers' performance of the tasks they carry out as part of their employment.

Media: Staffing

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask Ofcom to investigate the proposed reorganisation and reductions in staffing of local newspapers, including those owned by the Guardian Media Group and the Johnston Press plc, and the effects that cuts in staffing and centralisation of journalists and production will have on the role of local newspapers in reporting local news, including their role in ensuring a diversity of local news providers.

Lord Carter of Barnes: Action 14 of the Interim Digital Britain Report invited OFT together with Ofcom and other interested parties, to undertake an exploratory review across the local and regional media sector and make appropriate recommendations
	OFT produced a detailed discussion document with a deadline for replies by 31 March. The key findings and recommendations will be included in the Digital Britain report due to be published in early summer.

National Saving Gateway Scheme

Baroness Neuberger: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the proposed Saving Gateway does not apply to older savers on means-tested benefits such as pension credit.

Lord Myners: The saving gateway aims to initiate a saving habit among working age people on lower incomes, and to promote financial inclusion. Eligibility will be passported from entitlement to certain benefits and tax credits, which have been selected to target working age people on lower incomes, and so do not include pension credit.
	I refer the noble Baroness to my comments during the Second Reading of the Saving Gateway Accounts Bill on 17 March 2009 (House of Lords,Official Report, cols. 120 and 137).

Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the evidence submitted by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on the Worker Registration Scheme calling for its abolition.

Lord West of Spithead: The commission's submission is being considered alongside other evidence the Government have received in respect of the future of the Worker Registration Scheme. The Government will respond to the commission when a decision has been taken on whether to continue the scheme beyond the end of April 2009.

Post Office

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will respond to the Post Office Coalition's campaign for a Post Bank, to assist those without a bank account.

Baroness Vadera: The Government welcome the Post Bank Coalition's campaign, and the Minister for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs spoke at the launch of the campaign on 17 March. The Government are keen for the Post Office to deliver more banking and financial services within reach of everyone through its unrivalled and trusted network of branches. There are a range of options for how to do this. Allied to this is the Government's decision last November to award the new contract for the operation of the Post Office card account to the Post Office.

Post Office: Banking

Lord Barnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government under what authority the Post Office transferred personal savings accounts to Irish banks.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Post Office transferred savings accounts to Irish banks, whether savers were protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Baroness Vadera: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, managing director of POL, to reply direct to the noble Lord.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Public Bodies

Lord Selsdon: To ask Her Majesty's Government which members of the House of Lords are appointees to the non-departmental public bodies listed under "Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform" in annex A to the report of the Cabinet Office entitled Public Bodies 2008; and what was their appointment and individual remuneration.

Baroness Vadera: This information is not held centrally. Information on board membership and remuneration is published in individual bodies' annual reports and accounts.

Public Companies: Bonuses

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider new measures to prohibit bonuses to directors of public companies.

Baroness Vadera: Directors' remuneration is a matter for companies and their shareholders.
	The Government have consistently made it clear that there should be effective linkage between directors' remuneration and performance, and that exceptional rewards for mediocre performance are not in the interests of companies, their shareholders or the UK as a whole.
	The Directors' Remuneration Report Regulations 2002 introduced full disclosure for quoted company directors' remuneration and an annual shareholder vote on the remuneration report.
	There are no plans at present to introduce new measures.

Railways: Safety

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure safety and reduce crime on the rail network.

Lord Adonis: Crime on the railway fell by over 11 per cent in 2007-08, the fourth successive year in which the level has fallen. We will seek further reductions through a range of initiatives including the Secure Stations Scheme and our continued support for the British Transport Police.
	Rail remains one of the safest means of transport. Our intention to ensure that this remains the case is reflected in the 3 per cent reduction in death or injury to staff and passengers between 2009 and 2014 called for in the high level output specification.

Railways: Wales

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to upgrade railway lines in Wales.

Lord Adonis: The Government's high level output specification (HLOS) details the improvements in safety, reliability and capacity the Government wish to buy up to 2014. Overall, we have specified an increase in capacity to accommodate growth of 22.5 per cent; a 3 per cent reduction in the risk of death or injury to passengers or employees; and an increase in reliability from 88 per cent to 92.6 per cent and a 25 per cent reduction in delays of more than 30 minutes.
	Increasing capacity to meet future demand for rail travel is our top priority. The Government are investing over £20 million in schemes that will deliver more than 20 per cent extra capacity into Cardiff at the busiest peak times by 2014.
	The Welsh Assembly Government also work in partnership with Network Rail to enhance and improve railway infrastructure in Wales.

Royal Mail

Lord Hoyle: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Royal Mail's parcel business, including General Logistics Service, is to be taken over by any private investor in the Royal Mail.

Baroness Vadera: The Government are looking for a strategic partner for Royal Mail. It is expected that any sale of shares would be at the Royal Mail Group Ltd level.
	Royal Mail Group Ltd incorporates Royal Mail standard parcel and Parcelforce Worldwide services. GLS is a subsidiary of Royal Mail Group Limited and will be considered in that context in negotiations with potential partners.

Security: Strategic-use Languages

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government which strategic-use languages are required by the United Kingdom to meet its domestic and overseas security needs; whether the military and intelligence services have sufficient capacity in those languages; and if not, what is being done to rectify this.

Lord West of Spithead: To meet all current defence language skill requirements Armed Forces personnel receive training in about 40 different languages each year. At present, Arabic, Farsi/Dari and Pashto are regarded as operationally critical languages.
	To meet general military operational requirements, provision is made for about 400 personnel to receive lower skill level operational language training each year and there is provision for 72 personnel to start training each year on longer courses for higher skill level requirements.
	All language skill requirements must be balanced with other security and operational requirements. A coherent mix of military and contracted civilian personnel is used proactively to satisfy dynamic requirements, thereby minimising the impact of emerging skill shortages.
	The intelligence services' language requirements are many and diverse: generally these parallel military requirements. It would not be appropriate, however, to list languages of particular interest to the intelligence services. Their capacity in languages is built through both internal training and recruitment.

Worker Registration Scheme

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will extend the Worker Registration Scheme beyond 30 April.

Lord West of Spithead: No decision has yet been taken on whether to continue the Worker Registration Scheme beyond the end of April 2009.